Friday, August 18, 2006

Friday Open Thread

These open threads seem to be quite popular so we'll have another one. Besides, just about the only interesting item I spotted is all this bitchin' over Jennifer Shahade's book title, "Chess Bitch". What was the NY Times thinking?

Anyway, we like an anonymous poster's suggestion for a Friday Open thread topic: "the effectiveness of communication and information dissemination within the Australian chess cummunity."

The guys over at WACA produce a fantastic monthly downloadable newsletter in PDF format. For my money, this is definitely the best approach. Those who prefer a printed format by snail mail, or don't have net access (hard to believe but, yeah, they're out there) can receive that; and those that prefer to download can do so.

What about you, dear readers - any thoughts? Where are we lacking? How can we improve? Well OK, we can start with maybe updating the federation's website! Maybe a chess blog by your friendly Ratings Officer?

This is an open thread so talk about anything you want. I notice that there's the usual stoush between monsieurs Dr Bonham (who doesn't like to be referred to as an ACF official) and Sydney chess organiser Matt Sweeney, along with their respective supporters. Feel free to do that, but please keep the lingo kosher.

Finally, I'm off to some artsy do tonight. A Japanese musical thing, organised by an oversexed chess mate of mine. I gotta be there to make him look good. Have a good weekend.

15 comments:

DeNovoMeme said...

Over at ACCForum, there is a smoldering discussion about the ACF - abandon it or not? I am in the minority who says wind it up, and start again. Other people with more experiance dealing with the ACF and natural diplomacy than me, say work on it from the INSIDE. I don't know about that. It sounds more like the words of the defeated. When the ACF does eventually fall, I will write a book called, "Chess Bastard." ;-)

Anonymous said...

Mr Sweeney, far from being a smouldering discussion, your bulletin board is boring (I've just had a read of it) and is worse than Chess Chat. Its sad that all you do is just criticise people (eg Bill Gletsos) and organisations (eg ACF and NSWCA) who do far more for Australian chess than you do. We all know about your useless contribution to NSWCA Council when you were on it and your useless contributions in other areas of chess (eg promising a $500 first prize and normal rating two days in your Wollongong chess tournament and then on day of tournament changing it to $100 first prize and a one day rapid). If you can't do something useful for Aussie chess, then leave alone the people who are!

Anonymous said...

Why wouldnt an ACF official not like being referred to as an ACF official? lol

Anonymous said...

Rebuild the auschess.org website and support the web-clueless states. Ostracise forums that allow conduct that brings chess into disrepute.

Publish all games of major Australian tournaments on the auschess site in a timely fashion.

DeNovoMeme said...

Thanks Mr Gutless Anonymous, say what ever you like about the new board ACCForm, but do not say I am crooked >:-( A backstabbing, NSWCA appologist maggot like you deserves nothing less than a terminal illness. You could even be buried in an anonymous grave to match your personality.

Try again to read what was posted last month on this very blog in response to your last explosive diarrhea:

"Sweeney: Bolens and Xie Happy

An anonymous poster accused Sydney chess organiser Matthew Sweeney of being dishonest. The charge is to do with allegedly unpaid advertised prize money. This is Mr Sweeney's response:

There were our own local club players and two Sydney players (one an IM) who turned up to the two-day swiss with a $500 first prize – one of the Sydney players arriving after close of entries.

The club president and I decided that under the circumstances, that the two day event should be *cancelled* and a new 8 player, one day rapid round robin should replace it. I put my hand in *my* pocket and gave a total of $300 cash as appearance money to the two Sydney players. Both were very happy with that. They went on to win 1st $100 and 2nd $50 Both Bollens and Xie were happy with the outcome for their 4 hours of chess and the cancellation of second drive to and from Sydney for day two. In fact, Xie said to me he would love to come back next year, as did Bollens. Xie also posted a thanks on Chess Chat.

If anon with the half truths and slurs wants to be a man, and not like a particular backstabbing maggot we all know, let him say these things to me in person, in public, so people can see him get a dressing down fit for filth.

Matthew Sweeney

Anonymous said...

Matt's board worse than chesschat? lol

Chesschat has Howard Duggan and his antics.

Matt's board doesnt.

I would rather read Matt's board anyday,even if it has few members and less posts.

Anonymous said...

A free piece of advice for you Matt. Forget about Bonham.

Engaging with him is only going to make you angry,and thats a negative.

Be positive,it will be better for your bloodpressure and most likely your chess.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous author of post #4 - please don't take everything Mr Rosario says so literally! I objected to him referring to me as an ACF official when discussing those of my chess-related activities that are not relevant to my ACF positions. I have no objection at all, for instance, to him referring to me as ACF Selection Co-Ordinator (Senior Events) when discussing my actions in co-ordinating adult chess selections. I just disapprove strongly of any whiff of a suggestion that I am acting in an official capacity when I'm not. If it goes any further I won't be able to play 1...e6 without some turkey suggesting I am doing so on behalf of the ACF!

Anonymous said...

is it just me or has the ability to view the accforum members list now disappeared? perhaps the code of conduct declaration is undergoing some "maintenancE".

DeNovoMeme said...

The members list was accidently disappeared while I was fiddling to add the capacity for avatars. View of the list has been restored ( I hope.)

Since it was due to frenzied use of an avatar expanding device, may I say that ACCForums now has avatars that are are MUCH MUCH BIGGER than Chess Chat because size matters.

Anonymous said...

look, seriously, if size matters i know eighteen is a big shoe measurement but for a forum membership sizE?

DeNovoMeme said...

look, seriously, if size matters i know eighteen is just big enough to scape sniggers. Moreover, provided membership is over sixteen, it is the way the membership is marshalled that counts

Anonymous said...

Arosar,our ratings officer isnt "friendly"....

Anonymous said...

hey matty your member list still hasn't been restored. remember me?

Anonymous said...

in the light of the acf webmaster resigning [see just released newsletter] i'm curious as to whether a well known punters club will operate a book on who will succeed him and if the accforum webmaster the chesschat webmaster or the tcg webmaster will be "starter"s in such a speculative mEtric ;)[to a.r permission granted to move this comment should you decide to do a blog article on this development]